Ladder.



H. B. GAFFERS.

LADDER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 19, 1917.

Patented Jan. 15, 1918.

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To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, HERMAN B. GAFFnRs, citizen of the United States, residing at VVatervliet, in the county of Albany and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ladders, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawin This invention relates to improvements in ladders and has for its object the pro vision of a ladder with structural characteristics adapting the same for use in the formation of scaffoldin In the constructing of scaffolding, to avoid the disadvantages due to the springy nature of planks disposed with their broad surfaces horizontally When acting as cross supports, it is desirable and has been the practice to dispose said planks on edge With the broad surfaces thereof vertical, and to provide various types of devices for thus holding the planks.

With the foregoing in mind, the present invention has for its primary object the forming of a ladder with parts capable of serving as a ladder per se, and other parts forming receiving openings for the ends of supporting planks, the receiving openings being formed by associated members of the ladder capable of in turn supporting and maintaining in edgewise position the planks.

The preferred embodiment of the inven tion comprises a ladder having the usual outside rails with suitable rungs bridging the spaces therebetween to constitute the customary steps, in combination with a series of parallel supplemental or intermediate rails through which the rungs may preferably pass and to Which they are fastened, these intermediate rails being spaced apart to provide openings of approximately the size of the supporting planks to be introduced in edgewise position thereinto, portions of the rungs constituting the rests for the lower edges of the planks and the adjacent side walls of the additional rails preventing lateral play or tilting of the supporting planks.

Another characteristic of the invention resides in the capability of one or more of the supplemental rails to be slidable with reference to another so that the same may be ad justed to regulate the Width of the openings therebetween, in combination With means Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 15, 191w.

Application filed March 19, 1917; Serial No. 155,790.

for fastening these rails in adjusted position, thus enabling the formation of the openings to accommodate supporting planks of different thicknesses.

The improved details in the construction and arrangement of parts will be apparent from the specific description hereinafter contained, when read in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, and wherein the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective View of a scaffolding, illustrative of the manner of utilizing my improved ladder;

Fig. 2 is a front view;

Fig. 3 is an edge view; and,

Fig. i is a vertical sectional view.

Referring; more specifically to the drawings wherein like reference letters refer to the same parts in the several views,

A represent the opposite side rails of the ladder, the same converging slightly in an upward direction so as to bring the upper ends of said side rails closer together than the lower ends of the same, to permit overlapping of the opposite ends of similar ladder extensions, as represented at B to give the ladder the assembled length desired, it being observed that the lower end of each ladder section has its rails notched as at C to engage over I), a rung disposed near the top of each ladder section and extended through the stiles thereof to form lugs, whereas the upper end of each ladder section has its side rails notched as at E to receive the lowermost rung F, thus providing an interlocking arrangement operating through the forces of gravity to retain the sections in their position one upon the other. To clamp the sections of the ladder together against accidental displacement, I provide upon the ends of the extensions of the rung D ferrules or sleeves H inclosing the ends of D, said ferrules having inner flanges J con- 10o tacting the inner surfaces of the rails A and threaded outer ends for the accommodation of clamping nuts K for binding the ends of the overlapping rails A together as Will be clear from the dra *ings. outer ends of the ferrules are upset as at M to prevent entire removal and loss of the clamping devices K therefrom. Of course the ferrules H reinforce in great measure the ends of rung D in addition to the clamping Elle The extreme function expected to be performed thereby; This interlocking and supporting of sep arable ladder sections is old in the art.

The rungs below the prolonged rung, represented at G, are of a length to simply extend through the side rails A and B to securely fastened thereto in the ordinary manner; i i i Between the side rails A and at one side of the ladder to leave ample climbing or foot engaging space N at the other side of the ladder, I provide a series (any desired number) of parallel vertically disposed rails 0, three being shown, these rails occupying truly parallel planes as distinguished from the" converging or inclined disposition of the rails A;

Each rail 0 is apertured to permit the passage of the ladder rungs therethrough, and they are secured to each rung by screws or equivalent devices P passing through the edges of the rails and into the rungs.

The rails O are spaced apart suitable distances to provide slots or pockets Q, between each pair of rails and'each pair of rungs, for the reception of the ends of supporting planks R arranged in edgewise position as shown, to support upon the upper edges thereof the foot boards or platform members S. As seen in Fig. 1 the provision of the three supplemental railsO enables the provision of parallel pocket to enable the adjacent ends of oppositely extending supporting planks R to be accommodated and to rest upon the portions T of the rung G.

In instances, thefastening devices P may be omitted or withdrawn to permit one or more of the rails O to slide upon the rungs of the ladder toward and from an adjacent rail to regulate the width of the spaces therebetween so as to receive and properly embrace and support the edgewise disposed planks irrespective of the thickness of the same, the adjustment just referred to obviously permittin the use of the ladder in connection with supporting planks of substantially different thicknesses.

I U designates vertical slots in the rails 0 adapted to permit the passage therethrough of any suitable fastening devices for bolting or otherwise securing the ends of the planks R to the ladder should it be found necessary to employ fastening means at this point. In the side rails A of the ladder at points approximately in alinement with the slots U, said side rails are provided with openings V of a diameter somewhat greater than the width of the slots to permit the introduction of a headed bolt W. The head of the bolt bear against the outer face of the supplemental rail. 0 immediately adjoining the rail A. The stem of the bolt passes through the several supplemental rails, and a nut X on the threaded end thereof engages the outer faee of the far rail so as to draw the rails together when one or moreof them are loose for sliding movement upon the rungs. This reducesjthe width ofthe slots or pockets Q to correspond with tliethickness ofthe inserted plank or planksfltnd locks the latter in place against accidental endwise escape.

Of course the bolt is advantageous even when,

thes'upplemental rails are all fastened tothe rungs, i'npreventing this endwise displacement of the plank or planks.

Inasmuchas itis not my intention to tirely borne by the rungon which the plank? rests, but the supporting strains are dis-i tributed throughout the entire length ofthe ladder through the various rungs and their engagements with the rung connecting supplemental rails. I 1 While I have herein disclosed one-special embodiment of the invention, it 'willbe' instantly appreciated by workers in the art that the, invention is capable of embodiment in still other forms and devices without departing from the spirit ofthe invention, as defined in the hereto appended claims Having thus described the invention,

what I claim is:

1. A ladder of the character described comprising side rails, rungs connecting the same, and ad ustable supplemental rails located between the side rails and supported by said rungs, said supplemental rai'is being located to provide interveningspaces', and the supplemental rails being provided with alined openings extending transversely therethrough at points between the upper and lower ends of said spaces.

2. A ladder of the character described comprising side rails, rungs connecting the same, and adjustable supplemental rails located between the side rails and supported by said rungs, said supplemental rails being located to provide intervening spaces,- and the supplemental rails being provided with alined openings extending transversely therethrough at points between the upper and lower ends of said spaces, and said spaces being closed at top and bottom by portions of the rungs, substantially as, and

for the purpose described.

3. A ladder of the character described, comprising side rails, rungs, and supple-- mental rails spaced apart to provide adjacent parallel series of laterally alined like openings closed at top and bottom by said rungs, the extended portions of said rungs constituting the usual foot receiving membeing laterally adjustable with reference to another, for the purpose described.

5. A ladder of the character described comprising side rails, rungs, and a supplemental rail adjustable to occupy a spaced relation to the side rail, substantially as described.

6. A ladder of the character described comprising side rails, rungs, and three supplemental rails spaced apart to provide parallel series of vertically elongated openlngs, the outside supplemental rails being adjustable laterally with reference to the intermediate rail, for the purpose described.

7. A. ladder of the character described comprising side rails, rungs, and supplemental rails located between the side rails spaced apart to prpvide vertically elongated openings, a supporting plank adapted to be received in said openings, said rails and plank having apertured portions, and securing means for the supporting plank adapted to engage the alinedapertured portions of the rails and plank.

8. A ladder-of ,the character described comprising side rails, rungs, and supplemental rails located between the side rails spaced apart to provide vertically elongated openings, said rails having apertured portions, and securing means for supporting planks adapted to engage the alined apertured portions, one of the side rails being provided with open portions through which the securing means may be passed.

9. A ladder of the character described comprising side rails, rungs, and supplemental rails located between the side rails" spaced apart to provide vertically elongated openings, a supporting plank adapted to be received in said openings, said rails and plank having apertured portions, and securing means for supporting plank adapted to engage the alined apertured portions of the rails and plank, and one of the supplemental railsbeing laterally adjustable with reference to another of said supplemental rails, substantially as described.

10. A ladder of the character described comprising side rails, rungs, and supplemental rails located between the side rails spaced apart to provide vertically elongated openings, said rails having apertured portions, and securing means for supporting planks adapted to engage the alined apertured portions, one of the side rails being provided with open portions through which the securing means may be passed, and one of the supplemental rails being laterally adjustable with reference to another of said supplemental rails, substantially as described.

11. A ladder of the character described comprising side rails, rungs, and supplemental rails spaced apart to provide vertically elongated openings, one of said supplemental rails being laterally adjustable with reference to another, and means for securing the rails in. adjusted position against separation.

1.2. A ladder of the character described comprising side rails, rungs, and supplemental rails spaced apart to provide vertically elongated openings, one of said supplemental rails being laterally adjustable with reference to another, and means for securing the rails in adjusted position against separation, said securing means be ing also adapted to engage a supporting plank inserted in the opening formed by the adjusted supplemental rails.

13. A ladder of the character described, comprising side rails, rungs, and supplemental rails spaced apart to provide adjacent parallel series of laterally alined like openings closed at top and bottom by said rungs, the extended portions of said rungs constituting the usual foot receiving members of the ladder, and supporting planks disposed with their edges uppermost having adjoining overlapping end portions inserted in an adjacent pair of openings and held in said edgewise position by the rails and rungs, in combination with means engaging the overlapping portions of the supporting planks to fasten them against longitudinal movement independently of the ladder rails.

HERMAN B. GAFFERS.

Witnesses Enw. VAN LEUVEN, L'ILLIAN J. LEACH.

Copies or this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatents, 

